ANIMAL HEALTH AND HANDLING PROCEDURES (cont)
Institutions using research animals are required to have an attending veterinarian. One of the veterinarian's major responsibilities is to provide a preventative medicine program for research animals. This program can help minimize the risks of zoonosis. There are several aspects to a sound program.
Animal Procurement
Animals should be procured only from reliable vendors that can provide healthy animals. Animal health status reports may also be available from vendors. Vendor surveillance by periodic necropsy of representative animals to monitor their health status is also beneficial.
Quarantine and Separation
New animals should be quarantined from established colonies until their health status is determined. Species should be separated to prevent possible interspecies disease transmission.